The video for Grace Jones new song Corporate Cannibal is suitably disturbing. I'm not sure if the song or imagery really hold up for six minutes - it seems more effective as it was first used, for a background performance piece. There is going to be a rush to claim everything from the forthcoming album "brilliant" and "amazing." I'll try and use those words judiciously... or find better ones.
Another track, This Is Life, leaked a few weeks ago and it's sick in the best way. It hits you and it feels like a kiss. In fact, after you hear the song, you'll be stronger than you were moments before. Which is not, of course, hyperbole.
Now called Hurricane, the album is out 10/27 in the UK, with no word on a US release. More new song titles have been released, including The Key To Funky, William's Blood, and - haha! - Keeping Up With The Jones. Can you imagine the pressure to create her album cover? Note that there is now a GraceJonesTV channel on youtube. ____________________________________
Edit: As per usual these days, I wrote this post before realizing it had already been done. MuuMuse worships Gracie and likes this track more than me, so check out his post too.
Labels: Here's Grace
Happy 35th Birthday to Róisín
...who, in my opinion, should be the one with the $120 million Live Nation contract. Just sayin'...
Thanks for the reminder, Hopeless Optimist
Labels: Roisin Murphy
Halo James Could Have Told You So
I had never heard of Halo James until last week, via post at Jemboy and We Let The Stars Go.* According to the oh-so-reliable Wikipedia, Could Have Told You So went to number 6 in the UK in 1989. Halo James were Christian James, Ray St. John (who earlier co-wrote Sade's Smooth Operator) and Neil Palmer. They only released one album, Witness, on Epic in 1990.
This was sincere crooner music, inspired by earlier 80's groups like Spandau Ballet, though in on 1989 it seemed a reaction to all the hairband metal that pervaded MTV in the late 80's/early 90's. These prettyboy Brits had to step back when Kurt Cobain raged in a few years later to hasten a quick end to the Warrants and Poisons.
Halo James emerged at the same time as the similarly romantic Breathe, who had a massive worldwide hit with Hands To Heaven and How Can I Fall. I tend not to focus on late 80's music, so that may explain how I missed Halo James. They had virtually no presence in America at the time. I think it was both pure luck and balladry that lead Breathe - not Halo James - to worldwide success, but you can decide based on the MP3 below.
Halo James Could Have Told You So MP3
Since I've been going a bit medieval on Hard Mandy lately, I thought I'd do this mega-post 1995 interview for British television with Ruby Wax. Pretty funny stuff.
Part 1:
Madonna being particularly Streisand-like (read: neurotic/bossy) about camera angles. And note that she was talking about being a "creamy smooth pop icon goddess" back in the 90's.
Part 2:
Part 3:
Madonna talks about making crying calls ("but I love you!") to men in the middle of the night. Ruby is really funny about husbands aging - "eventually they just have two legs." Later Madonna says "I'm not getting out the bed until he makes me cum."
Part 4:
In which Ruby rips Madonna's panties out of her purse and puts them on her head, and later fishes out some Tampax. Joy.
Part 5:
It should be noted that Ruby has said she had a hard time with this interview because Madonna wouldn't "drop the act." Ruby, unlike Hard Mandy, moved to England and never attained an English accent. She wisely figured out that an American accent makes her more unique in Britain.
Labels: Madonna
Will at Glastonbury (in studio) singing an acoustic version of his new album's title track.
Here also is an interview with Will. His accent reminds me of George Michael at moments.
Labels: Will Young
The b-sides for the recent Goldfrapp singles have been disappointing. Unlike past projects, there have been no new songs, just alternate takes and remixes. This is odd because Will Gregory said they'd recorded more songs than they used. CD2 for Caravan Girl is pretty worthy, though, and it has the wispy, golden cover above.
The choral recording of Caravan Girl (minute long sample below!) is perfect because it pays homage to the New Seekers style that influenced Alison and Will when they recorded Seventh Tree. Monster Love - a masterpiece in the Goldfrapp canon - is entirely new recording as well and equally pretty.
Goldfrapp Caravan Girl (live choral version) sample
Goldfrapp Monster Love (live acoustic version) sample
Samples via Juno. Mute have been releasing the various mixes on iTunes US and UK, which is lovely, no?
Labels: Goldfrapp
Who: Paper Route.
What: Paper Route is a band.
Where: Paper Route is a band from Nashville.
Why: Paper is a band from Nashville soon to release a lush EP called Are We All Forgotten
When: Are We All Forgotten is out July 8, but download the title track below.
How: How? How can you not?
Paper Route Are We All Forgotten MP3
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Link: Myspace /EP Review: Stereo Subversion
Labels: Up In 08
Coldplay Viva La Vida fanmade video
My God. The best Coldplay song since Yellow. The timpani alone sends me skyhigh.
Antigone More Man Than Man myspace
Buyable on July 14, this is a major disco track that makes me swing my disco balls.
Donna Summer Stamp Your Feet bad video
What a monumental summer anthem! I hope we hear it during Olympic coverage.
Sam Sparro 21st Century Life myspace
Killer chorus and a worthy disco followup to Black And Gold.
Sneaky Sound System Kansas City myspace
A gem from Adem (that does not rhyme, right?). I was born in Kansas City, but keep it on the DL.
Mariah Carey I'll Be Lovin U Long Time non-video
If it makes me feel good, please do not judge me!
Jennifer Hudson Spotlight crappy video
Ne-Yo written, standard Stargate track, but J-Hud elevates it, as she does most everything she touches.
Ne-Yo Closer video
Oh, just run with it boyfriend. Let it out.
Rihanna Disturbia non-video
3rd Stargate in a row. Ri-ri is in her imperial phase.
Madonna Miles Away non-video
Best song on Stale Candy. Video better be good b/c this single is really going to be the end of that record.
Alanis Morissette It's A Bitch To Grow Up non-video
Inelegant title for one of AM's finest songs and one my peers seem to be feeling...
Cyndi Lauper Into The Nightlife video
What a massive chorus! Solid, au courant return and much needed career boost.
Neon Neon I Told Her On Alderaan myspace
NeonX2 entered the Tardis and came out in 1985. In the land of Princess Leia, no less!
Captain Keep An Open Mind video
After a sterling debut comes another jaunty Britpop single.
Delays Girl's On Fire hmmm
Could this song be any bigger? I'd love to hear this live, with those massive drums barrelling.
Aimee Mann Thirty One Today video
Following Alanis' lead, Aimee tackles the hard edges of aging with a polished sweetness
She & Him I Thought I Saw Your Face Today non-video
Pasty Cline is tapping her toe in her grave in Winchester VA.
The Verve Love Is Noise myspace
The loop is relentless, but their first song in 11 years is passionate dancerock.
Wild Beasts The Devil's Crayon video
Vocalist on the verses reminds me Big Country's Stuart Admason (RIP). video
Teddy Thompson Where To Go From Here
Beautiful ballad by Richard Thompson's angelic son. Prod. by Marius DeVries. myspace
What are your favorites?
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Worthy albums this quarter: Sam Sparro, Coldplay, Alanis Morissette, Donna Summer, Cyndi Lauper, She & Him
Anticipating: Antigone, Grace Jones, Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Annie, Lily Allen, Deepest Blue, Will Young
Disappointment: Madonna's "Stale" Candy doesn't hold up over time. Maybe it will sound better in 5 years, but I would venture to say she did not invest herself in this music the way she always has.
Labels: Best 08
Róisín Murphy's making movies, this one for Movie Star. Her boyfriend directed this homage to John Waters. The lobster vignette is pure early 70's Waters, with a bit of kooky violence and gore, but no shit-eating (NSFW) or singing assholes, thank God. Methinks John will pay her a compliment if he sees this: Róisín is the filthiest woman in the world.
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I just noticed that Róisín has a big gap in her touring schedule this fall. I certainly hope she will fill it with an American tour. Check out this recently released live video for the slammin' Cry Baby, one of my faves from Overpowered.
Labels: Roisin Murphy, videos
Peter Robinson of PopJustice / NME has just written a piece for the new Attitude that examines the problems with Kylie Minogue's X project. I haven't been able toget my sweaty hands on it yet, but I've heard he takes Kylie's collaborator Will Baker to task, as well as the record label and large number of people trying to control Kylie's post-cancer return to pop. Here is what I wrote on the PJ Forums:
I like X as a collection of songs - though it has no coherence as an album. It's like a hits package. I have not read Peter's piece, but here's the one thing about Baker - he spent much of White Diamond trying to convince Kylie to show more of her true self as he knows her. And she didn't. That's my theory as to why he included the cringey Will-cries-and-is-comforted-by-Kylie scene. Trying to show her as a friend. At a certain point the smiley pop becomes tiresome and he knows that. We already get the sense that Kylie is actually a nice person, but I sometimes wonder if he's trying to make her into something she really is not. She's been in the public eye for so long that the shield is permanently up.
I am not sure of Will or EMI's control over X, but it seemed a good moment for her to make a more personal statement. It sounds like Will viewed it as a chance for her to widen her styles. She is never going to be a hit in America and that's fine. She should not worry about it! I do think the X album cover is EPIC, but in general, as a stylist Will has become wretched... run out of tricks. Let the woman be PRETTY for Godssakes! His tour costuming is infantile - I assume the designers followed some sort of direction. Remember her in the beautiful dress on the moon in the Showgirl tour? Wow indeed.
I should note that I think Janet Jackson and Madonna have also suffered from identity crises this year, with too many cooks in the kitchen and too many bases to cover. Becoming sort of shallow at the moment when one hopes the wisdom of a life well lived would inform their music. After so many records sold, Kylie should exercise the creative control she has earned.
But again, an album that contains Wow, Stars, The One, Cosmic and All I See is pretty fucking great in my book. In fact, the extended versions of All I See and The One rank as some of her most sublime moments.
Update: I've finally read the article. It uses The One as a solid example of the cock-ups with X: Perhaps the most obvious hit single, released at the end of the campaign with no video (and apparently not performed on tour!). Robinson's final parapgraph is the kicker. His advice:
Think about how you want to be remembered in 200 years. Distill that vision into ten songs. Be selfish. Do not be distracted by what you think your fans want... you can do anything, but you will only truly succeed when people know you're calling your own shots. Just be yourself rather than what other people want you to be.
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Background reading: Read my thoughts on X / Paul also commented on this topic
Black And Gold is free on US iTunes this week and the album is only $7.99. Dan likes it, so you should too!
Labels: Sam Sparro
click to enlarge
Okay, that kid is already hipper than I will ever be and he's, what, 2? Look at that pose and the threads! As you know, I am sort of over Bitchin' Gwen. She made her last album for Kingston's peers, not me. And DILF Daddy Gavin? Stop making "music"! Let's just put Kingston in No Doubt and have him do it all. I believe the children are our future. Right?
Labels: gwen
Ne-Yo Closer at the BET Awards. Love it.
The show had two other major moments...
1) The reunion, for like a minute, of the great girl group En Vogue. They provided my soundtrack for the early 90's.
2) and then there was THIS:
photo Getty
Oh my. The beautiful mystery that is Maxwell emerged from 8 years of hiding to sing Simply Beautiful for Al Green. Sounded gorgeous as ever. I firmly believe that when this man returns to music, he will sell huge amounts of records.
New Annie Lennox pic via Ethrill
After a truly laborious day, I came home to find Roommate standing over the gas stove with marshmallows on sticks. She was making S'mores! Do non-Americanos know what those are? Delish. And so healthy. Anyhoo, I hope at some point to post a pic or two of my new place. I've been here 3 months this week! I haven't talked it up much because it took awhile to get it into shape. This week our neighborhood was rated number one in Washington by the City Paper. It's gorge. Onward...
Followng up my Grace Jones post, there is now live video on youtube, including a sneak at her simple-yet-scary Corporate Cannibal video and a live bit of Pull Up To The Bumper. The Guardian also reviewed the show, as did the vair vair lovely Phil De Worrapalova.Antigone releases her feminista disco single More Man Than Man on July 14. It'll be digital via yoctopus.
Saint Etienne literally releasing another compilation? The kids on PJ forums say so. My Gawd. I assume they have zero control over their own catalog. At least it will have 2 new songs, plus Lover Plays The Bass.
Billie Piper is unrecognizable in Diary Of A Call Girl. It's not a bad show though. Swank London locations and BP is pretty engaging in it. Who knew?! Who also knew she was carrying Laurence Fox's bun in her oven?
Sam Sparro asks Annie some questions for her EPK.
La Bex fan Kaushik is going Guevera on us and wants you to sign a petition so Sophie will release her collaboration with Pet Shop Boys, assuming it really exists.
Speaking of Bex, did you notice my close personal friend Dan Gillespie Sells in a criminal coat/shorts combo with baby blue docksiders in the Telegraph?
I love the name of Mercury Rev's new CD: Snowflake Midnight (out September 29th). Also am bemused by them describing it as "self-luminous." Their old song Nite And Fog is freaking magical.
Oasis has a less ethereal title for their probably-weak October CD: Dig Out Your Soul. Eww. The single has a better title: Shock Of The Lightening. I feel like they're a variation on Prince: Everybody get excited for a week and then we go limp.
The chick in Mates Of State looks like a blond Catherine Tate. Which reminds me, I LOVED the Dr. Who episode about Agatha Christie.
Chanteuse Sarah Nixey's single is now on iTunes all over the place. It's ambient French pop; a Francois Hardy cover. I think it's a divertissement un peu (is that right?). C'est bon, mais ce n'est pas Strangelove. Viva Mlle. Nixey.
Boy George's US tour is over before it begins. I wish him well, but what a mess that man's life is.
I was a HUGE fan of Til Tuesday, but have never fulling warmed to Aimee Mann as a solo artist. Her new record seems to have been recorded with my taste in mind! 31 Today is a total gem. She appeared in the Independent this week.
Blogs:
Danneeboy cracks me up. I love how he describes good music as "the sex."
Jemboys World (Eternally 14) is loaded with great rarities from the 90's. Load.Ed.
Congratulations to D'luvly for his career revamp. I am sure he will be even more successful than he was at Instinct. UK Dan 76 is also about to change jobs, so I won't be able to visit him upstairs in his store ("Errr, how do I get downstairs?"). Books will never die.
RIP Tim Russert. How shall I get through the election without you?
Labels: mixtape
Great new photo by a guy named Christoph on Flicker.
I have an undying love and admiration for Richard Ashcroft. He has an alien-like physical beauty and his elegant Song For The Lovers is one of my all-time favorite songs. Utterly and unashamedly romantic. If you don't know it, email me and I'll send it to you. Anyway, Ashcroft is one of the few male rock artists who can match Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham. While LB is far more experimental than Ashcroft, they share an edgy, serious passion for music and their voices exude emotion. They make the difficult seem effortless.
I didn't think it'd happen, but The Verve reunited and recorded a new album, Four, due out August 18/19. If you're unfamiliar with Ashcroft, 36, he created two of most essential records of the past 20 years: The Verve's Urban Hymns (September 1997) and his first solo release, Alone With Everybody (June 2000). Watch this live version (embedding disabled) of the former album's Sonnet. The bit from the repeated "by now" at 3:10 until the end gives me chills everytime.
The new single, Love Is Noise, was premiered by Zane Lowe in London tonight and it's lush. It has a sort of swizzy energy about it, edging toward dance music. I'm trying to decide if that "uh huh uh huh" loop is a Simple Minds sample. It sounds like a chopped up bit of the Robin Clark backing vocals on Alive And Kicking. Highly unlikely, but that's what I thought the first time I heard it. That loop is going to be controversial - it's a bit relentless - and if you focus on it, it's kind of overwhelming. A strange mixing choice.
The Verve Love Is Noise get it via Open Your Eyes 
XO's Top Ten Plus One Richard Ashcroft / Verve* Songs:
A Song For The Lovers
Slow Was My Heart
Sonnet*
Bittersweet Symphony*
Get My Beat
Keys To The World
C'mon People
Science Of Silence
Weeping Willow*
This Time*
Break The Night With Colour
Richard Ashcroft A Song For The Lovers:
... looking beautiful and cadaverous. Check out this version where he wear aviators better than anyone on Earth. I lived Song For The Lovers for a fleeting moment around the time it came out and kept it secret from everyone. Sigh. It didn't work out, so while the whole thing now lives in my head as a case of "what-if," my brain knows the truth. Regardless, everyone needs a moment where they've taken off to another city, telling no one, to meet someone that they should not be seeing...
Labels: Ashcroft / Verve
My look is for girls on the run. I'm always in a hurry. For me, sunglasses are eye make-up, even at night. Half of my face is sunglasses, the other half is lips.- Grace Jones
It's probably no secret that I think that Slave To The Rhythm by Miss Grace Jones is one of the Greatest Songs Of All Time. And now Londoninium is abuzz because Grace just did a big show at Festival Hall (read a review). Topped with tall hats and working the legs (and the usual amount of crazy), she debuted new material from her forthcoming Corporate Cannibal album [6/30 update: it's now called Hurricane]. It's her first in 21 years since her last record, Bulletproof Heart (Grace always has the best album covers), so everyone is on tenterhooks wondering how the new one will sound.
Here's Grace performing Slave at the Trevor Horn event in November 2004. Still emitting superstar frequencies...
What we know about the new album: It was produced by someone named Ivor Guest and has a big supporting cast. Songs include Devil In My Life, Hurricane, Love You To Life, and Corporate Cannibal. I've heard one song - and you can too - This Is Life, and it's very martial. Grace's voice can sit in almost any arrangement and the new track is both modern and self-referencing.
If you don't have Slave To The Rhythm (1985), Trevor Horn remixed one song, "pulling it into a million pieces and throwing them back together in a myriad of new formations" to create an album built around that one song. Really fucking cool. Check out her wicked, "cloaked" performance of it on Terry Wogan. Watch for the payoff in the last 30 seconds. The song is famous for Ian McShane's "Ladies and gentleman..." intro. Trivia #1: McShane met Trevor Horn at my favorite London restaurant, Geale's in Notting Hill.
Additional reading: a history of Grace from The Independent. She's just turned 60! Also watch Grace's son Paulo Goude perform with his band.
Trivia #2: I have a framed album cover of Nightclubbing in my bedroom! You can see it, if you're ever lucky enough to get in there.... haha.
Labels: Here's Grace
